{"id":42366,"date":"2017-08-22T07:40:24","date_gmt":"2017-08-22T07:40:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=42366"},"modified":"2017-08-22T07:40:24","modified_gmt":"2017-08-22T07:40:24","slug":"chile-abortion-court-approves-easing-total-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/world-news\/chile-abortion-court-approves-easing-total-ban.html","title":{"rendered":"Chile abortion, Court approves easing total ban"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chile abortion, Court approves easing total ban<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Chile abortion, Court approves easing total ban:- Chile’s constitutional court has voted to approve a bill to ease the country’s total ban on abortions.<\/span><\/p>\n

It ruled that terminations are justified after rape, if the mother’s life is at risk or if the foetus is not expected to survive the pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n

The law was approved after two years’ debate in the Chilean Congress but had been challenged by conservatives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chile had been one of seven Roman Catholic countries with an abortion ban in all circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n

They are Chile, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Malta, The Vatican and Dominican Republic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last major hurdle<\/span><\/p>\n

The current law in Chile was put in place during the military government of Augusto Pinochet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chile abortion bill: ‘My pregnancy was torture’<\/span><\/p>\n

News of the judges’ ruling by 6-4 led to celebrations among left-of-centre and centrist parties in central Santiago. It was also welcomed by women’s and rights groups.<\/span><\/p>\n

The court heard the arguments of more than 130 concerned organisations before making its ruling, which removes the last major hurdle for the bill to become law.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chile legalised abortion for medical reasons in 1931 but it was banned totally in 1989 under Gen Pinochet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lawmakers have since 1991 introduced dozens of bills to ease the restrictions, but all were blocked by right-of-centre parties and the church.<\/span><\/p>\n

The cause of the reformers was boosted in 2013 with the election of President Michele Bachelet, a keen supporter of a woman’s right to choose whether or not to have an abortion. The move to ease abortion restrictions is seen as her swansong as she leaves office.<\/span><\/p>\n

BBC Latin America analyst Candace Piette says that the ruling is a watermark for reproductive rights in the four countries of Latin America which have a blanket abortion ban.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though an estimated 70% of Chileans are in favour of lessening the restrictions, abortion remains deeply controversial.<\/span><\/p>\n

Under existing legislation, both doctor or patient can face up to five years in prison. In the four years up to 2014, 73 people were jailed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recently the courts have tended to order therapy for women instead of prison.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the risks, reproductive rights organisations say up to 70,000 illegal abortions take place every year in Chile.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most common methods is taking a pill intended to treat ulcers or by obtaining pills on the online black market.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-\u00a0http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-latin-america-41005517<\/span><\/p>\n

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